AMH 2010 Essay Assignment – “Theresa, A Haytien Tale” Learning Outcomes and Objectives: The essay on “Theresa, A Haytien Tale” will demonstrate general education learning outcomes, along with the following learning objectives: • Develop historical thinking skills. • Interpret sources. • Demonstrate an understanding of diverse perspectives and their influence on individual, social, historical, and political events or on cultural expression • Strengthen organization and communication skills. Research and Analysis: Complete the Weebly lesson on Theresa. (The link to the Weebly lesson is available in Module 5 Study Activities). Be sure to read the following, which are included in the Weebly lesson: Read PBS’s biography of the Freedom’s Journal, available online at
http://www.pbs.org/blackpress/news_bios/newbios/nw…
Read “Theresa, A Haytien Tale,” originally published in the Freedom’s Journal in 1828. The text is available through the following links: For an online copy, see
http://www.common-place.org/jtoaa/teibp/content/th…
For a link to download the tale, see
http://www.common-place.org/jtoaa/?page_id=36
Read the excerpts of New York laws included in the Weebly Lesson on Theresa. Answer the following questions based on the background information and “Theresa, A Haytien Tale.” The questions are to guide you in writing your essay. You do not have to turn in your answers to the instructor. 1. When was this short fictional story published? What was it published in? 2. What was the author’s message to the newspaper’s readers? What do you think was his purpose in publishing this story in Freedom’s Journal? Explain why you believe this was the author’s message and purpose. Provide explanation, along with evidence from “Theresa, A Haytien Tale.” 3. What event influenced this tale? Why do you think that this event influenced an author writing for Freedom’s Journal in 1828? Note: These questions are to help you answer the historical context part of the prompt. Don’t forget to also describe the plot of the story
AMH 2010 Essay Assignment – “Theresa, A Haytien Tale” Essay Assignment: Prompt: Describe the story (Theresa) and place it in historical context.* Submit your typed essay via the dropbox provided. Be sure to submit in the Assignment Submission box by clicking Write Submission. Paste your essay or upload your assignment there. Do not use the Comments box. Word docs or similar work best as attachments. Do not use PDF or .pages (Mac). • The essay should be based on the assigned primary sources – “Theresa, A Haytien Tale,” and the New York law excerpts – and the secondary sources – the PBS bio on Freedom’s Journal and historical context information presented in the Weebly Lesson: Theresa. • The paper should contain a thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph. • The paper should be a minimum of 2 pages in length, double-spaced, not including citations. (Use default settings including 12-point Times New Roman font. No cover page needed.) • Use Chicago Style citations. (See guide:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/c…
a tting_and_style_guide/chicago_manual_of_style_17th_edition.html • Review the lesson on Historical Thinking from Module 1 and the information contained in the Weebly Lesson on Theresa, as needed, to improve writing for a history essay. *This is the meat of the assignment. Make sure that you describe the plot of the story and place it in historical contex.
AMH 2010
Rubric for Essay on “Theresa: A Haytien Tale”
Possible points: 100
Score the
Standard
Standard (1-4)
Thesis: clearly states
the
interpretation/argument.
Context: clearly
considers context of
time and place
Clear: understandable,
concrete
Precise: specific, exact
to the necessary level of
detail
Relevant: clearly
connected to the matter
at hand
Source Analysis
Breadth: consider
multiple perspectives
Fair: not merely selfserving or one-sided
Correct: free from
grammar, punctuation,
spelling, and usage
errors
Creative Thinking
Comments/Criteria
Create a well-developed thesis that can be supported by the
evidence.
Demonstrates understanding of an event, person, or idea within
historical context; matter at hand is considered and connected to
the broader picture.
Understandable, meaning can be grasped. Present information
clearly and accurately through the effective selection,
organization, and analysis of content.
Evidence is used to support the main idea or argument. Identify
the most significant and relevant facts, definitions, and concrete
details for the purpose at hand. Use examples, specifics, or
detailed accounts.
The parts of the paper relate to one another. Every line relates to
the whole. Writing clarifies the relationships between claims and
reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claims and
counterclaims
Need to know who wrote the source, or what organization is
behind the source. Identify author, time, place, and purpose to
determine credibility and context. Recognize how time, place,
and perspective influence standards of evidence, objectives, and
methods of thinking and communicating.
In the research phase, a variety of sources and viewpoints are
collected and considered. Synthesize information from a range of
sources into a coherent understanding of an event, person, place,
and/or concept. Resolve conflicting information by considering
the value, truth, validity of available sources, when possible.
Various perspectives are considered. The paper is not trying to
prove a point that is unfairly biased or that is not supported by
evidence.
Are grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage correct? Appropriate
for audience? Are guidelines followed?
Is the work significant? Is it original?
9-10
7-8
4-6
1-3
Mastery
Work is exemplary, skilled, marked by excellence in clarity, precision, and
relevance
Competent Work is effective, relevant, and clear, but lacks the exemplary depth,
precision, and insight of mastering
Developing Work is inconsistent, ineffective; shows a lack of consistence competence: is
often unclear, imprecise, inaccurate, and superficial
Emerging
Work is insufficient; marked by lack of clarity, superficiality, and inaccuracy